Gas exchange readjustments in response to hypoxic-hypercapnic exposure in young male residents of the Magadan region

Aim. The paper aims to identify the characteristics of gas exchange and external respiration during hypoxic-hypercapnic exposure in young men of the Magadan region. Materials and methods. A comprehensive survey of young men of military age (18-21) who are permanent residents of Russia’s northeast was carried out. A hypoxic-hypercapnic test with CO2 free respiration was used. Before and after respiration, the indirect calorimetry method was used to analyze the composition of exhaled gases, the parameters of external respiration, energy expenditure at rest, the respiratory quotient, and ventilation equivalents for oxygen and carbon dioxide (Carbonic gas analyzer, Medgraphics VO2000 gas meter). Statistical data processing was performed using the Statistica 7.0 package. Results. Significant post-respiratory dynamics of most indicators of gas exchange and external respiration was revealed. In response to hypoxic-hypercapnic exposure, there was an increase in energy expenditure at rest, minute ventilation, one-minute CO2 emission, and one-minute oxygen uptake, which occurred in the presence of a significant decrease in the oxygen utilization factor. Conclusion. The effect of hypoxic-hypercapnic exposure can be seen as a pronounced change in the parameters of interest. This was associated with metabolic activation at peak exposure and a decrease to below baseline levels in the recovery period. In this case, the breathing patterns readjusted with a pronounced increase in pulmonary ventilation and the preservation of above-baseline levels of the depth of breathing at each time point of the recovery period up to the 3rd minute.